Automatic thread-tension regulator for continuously-acting spinning machines



A. NAU-TOURON AUTOMATIC THREAD TENSION REGULATO R FOR CONTINUOUSLY ACTING SPINNING MACHINES April 28, 1931.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 14, 1926 April 28, 1931. A. NAU-TOURON AUTOMATIC THREAD TENSION REGULATOR FOR CONTINUOUSLY ACTING SPINNING MACHINES Filed Oct. 14, 192 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 28, 1931.

uni-ran srAr ALBERT NAU-TOURON, or emssn,

AUTOMATIC THREAD-TENSION REGULATOR 10 colwmmusmficmmg H Application filed October 14, 1826, Serial No. 1415581, and in France October 17, 1925,

In the continuous acting spinning machines at present employed, it is well known thatthe tension of the thread dependson certain differences in thelinear, circumferential and an- 5 gular velocities of the moving parts concerned, and on certain forces external to the system on certain couples and on certain moments.

It is also known that, systematically, the

15 momentary values of equilibrium are variable as'theyare derived from equilibrium data which are variablethemselves, and-that unless the desired equilibrium be reestablished, the tension of the thread will be essentially variable from thecommencement of the wind-. ing, of the thread formed, on the bobbin up to the end, that is to say throughout the course of the formation of the bobbin. It is therefore necessary to keep this tension always constant and equal to the value selected, namely to apply to the bobbin a supplementary mechanical braking action known as drag;

This supplementary resistance must be calculated as a function of the momentary diameter-oi? the windingso as to obtain a constant tension.

in present practice and especially in the spinning of flax, the worker is compelled to 39 exercise an incessant watch and is caused much fatiguing labour, because at every-Vina stant he has to move the drag weights-in such away as to augment the arc of contact of the bobbin with the brake cord in proportion to thewinding.

The present invention relates to a compensating apparatus which acts automatically andthe object of which is to give to the thread a tension which can be regulated duringthe formation oi the bobbin and to automatically maintain this constant tension during the entire operation without its being necessary for worker to intervene for all the spindles or for each, spindle taken individually.

replacing the rising and falling rack, or

drag bar ordinarily fixed in spinning ma- The principle of the inventionconsistsin the various layers of thread on the bobbin, augmenting the brakingaction in such a way that thediameter of this bobbin increases,

that is to say as a function of the thickness proper of the finished thread. p

In the accompanying drawings-is diagram matica'llyshown, by way of example, con structional form of the invention applied to; a spinning machine of the continuously act ing type with side pieces. f

Figurel is a front elevation or a portion of the machine with the rising and falling rack broken away, and its connections with the apparatus, characteristicof the invention. i I

Figure 2 is a corresponding plan view partly in section.

Figure 3 is a detailjview of the paratus in elevation.

Figure A is a plan View of the. same. Figure 5, is 'a sectional view or the rising and falling barand of the mounting of the drag weights along-the line 5 5 of Figsvv ure 1.

Figure 6 is. a sectional View, on the line 6 6 of Figure 2, these two figures, 5fand 6', being drawn to a larger scale in comparison with the precedingfigures; finally, Figures 7 and 8 represent, in vertical secs tion .andin plan, a special device for mount; ingthe bobbins. r

Therising and fallingracl'; or dragtbar in machines constructed according tol this; invention, is replaced by continuous and movable bar 1 which is adapted to slide along" driving apithe rising and falling plate ,0 on a roller- 7 track or raceway 2 so as to reduce the resistance due to friction. On this bar 1 is also adapted to slide another bar 3 with or without the interposition of rollers. This second bar 3 is'constantly forced towards the apparatus which operates it,1t;hat is to say towards the left, in Figure l, by means of a compression spring-4: which actsby compression. Conduits shown in Figures, 1 and 5, in e tone. o sh a es 5., a e mounted swivellin-gsupports 6 on the members 7 (see 7 Figures land 5') which by means of slots 8 s t scr 9 ndv guid pins 19- wih .1,,

' at its free end to the'member 13, passing through the eye, and secured by means of a knot 16 in the usual way.

The eyes 13 may be either completely close or they may be split at their upper ends so as to facilitate the putting on of the cord.

The cord 15 runs in a horizontal plane, bearing against a certain. part of the circumferenceof the groove in the base of the bobbin, then over the sheave 5 andterminates in a drag weight 17.

The end of the bar 1a where the apparatus which operates it is located, that is to say towards the left in Figure 1, is pivoted at a point 18 to'a shoe 19 adapted to'slide on the edge of the rising and falling plate and has a boss 20 which is adjustably connected by a suitably shaped member 21 to a stirrup of yoke 22 oscillating freely about axis 23' carried by the fiat piece 24. Y

The member 24 is mounted on round rods 25, 25a which are adapted to slide freely in the sockets 26, 26a of a support 27 and firmly secured by any suitable means to the rising and falling plate.

The rods 25, 25a are fixed at their opposite ends to a member 28 that is provided with an opening or longitudinal groove 29.

' The opening 29 receives a crank pin 30, which can be secured, by means of nuts 31, to a plate or drum 32 on which the crank pin is adjustable radially by means of a screw 33 Wit the groove 34.

The plate or drum 32 has another rad1al groove 35 in it preferably in line wlth the groove 34 and by means of which it can have a'rotary motion imparted to it according to a certain law ofangular variation by means of the trunnion37 attached to the pinion 36 and adjustable radially thereon by means of the regulating and locking stud 38.

In order to permit of the free rotation of the drum 32 relatively to the ring 39, this drum is mounted on ball bearings or bearings of a similar kind.

The ring 39, the body of which is connected to the rising and falling plate 0, carries an internally toothed ring 39a which gears into the teeth of the satellite pinion 36, the ratio rovided with a nut and a lock nut and of the transmission of these two gears being preferably 1 to 2.

By simple regulation of the stud 38 and of the crank pin 30 it .is possible to obtain a whole gamut of laws and amplitudes of movements of the bar 1 and consequently of the sheaves 5 of the brake cords.

. The satellite pinion 36 rotates loosely on a trunnion or stud axle 41, attached to a plate 42, keyed on a shaft 43 carrying on its rear end a gear wheel 44 suitably pinned.

The wheel 44 (see Figures 3 and 4) gears into a pinion 45 keyed on the shaft 47 of a worm wheel 46. The shaft 47 rotates in a bearing (not shown) in the support 48 likewiseconnected to the rising and falling plate 0. The support 48 has an upper stirrup or yoke which receives the shafts of a worm 49 gearing into the worm wheel 46.

This worm 49 is integral with a ratchetwheel 50, in gear with pawls 51, 51a constantly drawn into engagement with the ratchet wheel by means of springs 52, 52a.

.By means of pins 53, 53athe pawls 51, 51a are themselves connected to a disc or plate 55 which carries extensions 56 and 57 of suitable shape. The ends of these extensions are provided with bosses 58 and 59.

Along the axes of each of these bosses or in line with the same are arranged stops constituted by screw threaded rods 60 and 61 which, by means of helical or similar springs and nuts and lock nuts, can be adjusted in position longitudinally in the respective sockets 62 and 63 pierced with graduated openings or slots 64 and index drawn on the rod permitting the position of the stops to be set accurately to agree with the graduated scale for the purpose of regulation.

The stop formed by the whole 6162 is connected to the rising and falling bar by a suitable support 65, shown as being broken away in Figure 3, while the whole of the stop 60, 63 is connected to the frame 66 of the spinning-machine, that is to say fixed with respect to the movements of the parts in motion.

A helical spring67 working constantly under traction and adjustable by means of a nut and lock nut, connects on the one hand the support of the stop 61 and on the other hand the arm 56 of the disc 55 to the point 68. In consequence hereof the action of the spring 67 constantly draws the boss 58 and thestop 61 towards each other.

The combination of the mechanical parts described acts as follows:

If it be supposed that empty bobbins 69 are placed'in the spinning machine, the ris- 'ing and falling bar being at the top of its stroke, the operator will commence by regulating the rear bar 12 in such a way that the cords 15 are brought into contact with the groove at the base of the bobbin along a development corresponding to a desired angle [3.

i brought the eyes 13 to the point correspond ing to the value sought by the angle ,8. f The sector 71 is keyed or locked in position by acting on the nut. 73 with the handle which through the medium'of a washe'r forces theoperating crank 74 fro1n its base (see Figure 6). v

lVhen the spinning machine is started or res'tartechthe operator begins moving the lever 7 5 in the'direction of'the arrow 76, to push, in the direction opposite to that in which it is driven the whole of the bar 1 so as to facilitate the starting of the bobbins.

Stops 77 and 7 8.respectively are fiXed to the end of the bar 1 and to the end of the rising and falling plate.

The regulation ofthese .stops will always be effected in such'a way that the angled corresponding to thedevelopment of the remaining part of the brake cord on the groove of the bobbin shall be practically. nothing at the commencement of the rise. The stop 7.8 is hinged so as to permit, should it be neces sary, of'the' disconnecting movement being augmented.

The position of the stops .60 and 61 is then regulated according to the graduated scale engraved on the sockets 63 and 62 constructed according to certain calculations which de: pend essentially on the numbers of threads to be executed on the machine.

The machine is then started, that is to say that if a start was made from the upper posi? tion of the rising and falling bar, thislattel will begin to descend, then by means ofthe well known mechanical devices employed will again beginto ascend. When it arrives again a .at the top of its stroke theboss 59 which, as above stated is connected through the medium of various members to the rising and falling tending to cause the whole of thearms 57 and 56 to turn in the direction of the direction of the arrow 79. Under these conditions,- the pawls 51 and 51a will engage with the teeth of the ratchet wheel and will cause it to rotate a certain number of teeth, during-a certain portion of the upward stroke of the rising and falling bar in consequence of the adjustment of the stop the stop61 serving simplyto limit the strokeof the arm 56 to an angular value equal at: least to that of the stroke of the arm 57.

As soon as'the rising and falling bar has commenced to descen d again, the action of the spring 67 puts the pawls 51 and 51a into engagement again with the teeth of the ratchet wheel, and the apparatuswh ch con- 46, 45 and 44 the plate 42 and the satellite pinion 36 are rotated, thus rotating the drum 32 to cause linear m ovement of translation ofthe bar 1.

The direction of movement beingdeter.

mined in advance it follows that at the m0 ment when the rising and falling bar has started from the top of its stroke or travelto the top ofits stroke or travel, the bar 1 and the, bar 3 supported by it and also the thread guide 5 are movedtowards theleft in I Figure. 1 a certain amount so that the angle a of contact of the brake cords with the grooves in the bobbins has been augmented automatically and by the quantity determined and so augmented also for all the bobbins at once.

In proportion to the working of the machine, and every time the rising and falling bar returns to the topof its stroke ortravel, the same change will be produced, in such a way that each complete reciprocation of the rising and falling bar is succeeded by afresh increasing in the angle of contact of the brake, which augmentation is essentially inter'mit: tent and corresponds exactly to the formation of a fresh layer of thread.

d When the bobbin is finished and whenit is required to set the machine going again for a fresh bobbin, this can be done by turning the crank handle 7 9 to cause the a worm 49 on which it, is keyed to rotate in the reverse direction to that of the preceding movement. so as to bring all the parts backflto the starting point, then the machine Will besta-rted again, as described above, the same phases being, reproduced up to the end of the winding operation.

Figures 7 and 8 show in vertical section and in plan res'pectively a particular arrangement of bobbin applicable to the invention,

a a V In this case the bobbin 69 has a smooth base bar 0 strikes agalnst the end of the stop 60,.

The advantage of this latter device is that the uniformity and the regularity of the grooves isthus assured for all the'bobbins;

It must be quite understood thatall changes of constructional materials of the parts described or allchanges in theposition of these parts relatively to each other, or all changes in details of execution must be considered'as beingv within the scope of the present inven: tion Claims 1. An automaticvthread tension regulator for spinning machines having bobbins, said regulator comprising a bar movable longitudinally and disposed adj acent one side of said machine, a bar thatis spring pressed in a longitudinal direction and is slidable on said first named bar, brake bands contacting with said bobbins,. and brake band carrying means mounted :onsaid second-named bar causing said brake bands to press against said bobbins.

2; An automatic thread tension regulator forspinningmachines having bobbins, said regulator comprising a bar movable longitudinally and disposed adjacent one side of said machine, a spring pressed bar slidable on said first named bar, brake bands, and brake band guides carriedby said last namedlbar and adjustable longitudinally along said bar, said brake bands contacting with the bobbins of said spinning machine.

3. Anautomatic thread tension regulator for spinning machines having bobbins, said regulator comprising a bar movable-longitudinally and disposed adjacent one side of said machine, a spring pressed bar slidable on said first named bar, brake band guides I carried by said last named bar and adjustable longitudinally along said bar, aplurality of.

spindles adjacent said bars, brake bands contacting with said b,obbins,'and an adjustable bar to which said brake bands are attached located on the other side of said spindles from said first named bars. I

4. In an automatic thread tensionregulator for spinning machines, a bar movable longitudinally and disposed adjacent one side of said machine, and a' reciprocating frame attached to saidbar, said frame being provided with a groove, and a crank pin in said groove for operating the same in a direction parallel to said bar to move it longitudinally.

5. In an automatic thread tension regulator for spinning machines having spindles, bobbins carried by said spindles, a brake band carrier, brake bands for said bobbins, a reciprocating frame attached to said carrier, a reciprocating bobbin rail, and means operated by the upland down motion of said rail .rail for reciprocating said frame, and adfor reciprocating said frame.

6. In an automatic thread tension regulator for spinning machines having spindles,

prising a disc carryinga radially adjustable.

crank pin. H I

7. In an automatic threadtension regulator for spinning machmeshav ng spindles,

bobbins carried by said spindles, a brake band carrier, brake bands for said bobbins,

a reciprocating frame attached to said carrier, a reciprocating bobbin .rail, and means operated by the up and down motion of said rail for reciprocating said frame, said means comprising a disc carrying a radially adjustable crank pin, a radial groove in said pinion and a satellite gear carrying a member operating in said groove.

8. In anautomatic thread tension regulator for spinning machines having spindles, bobbins carried "by said spindles, a brake band carrier, brake bands for'said bobbins, a reciprocating frame attached to said carrier, areciprocating bobbin rail, and means operated by the up and down motion of said rail for reciprocating said frame, said means comprising a disc carrying a radially adjustable crank pin, a radial groove insaid pinion, a satellite gear carrying a member operating in said groove, an internally gearedring carried by said plate and meshing with said satellite gear. V

9. In an automatic thread tension regulator for spinning machines having spindles,

a reciprocating frame attached to said car rier, a reciprocating bobbin rail, and means operated by the up and down motion of said rail for reciprocating said frame, and adjustable stops to regulate the amount of movement of said frame.

10. In an automatic thread tension regulator for spinning machines having spindles, bobbins carried by said spindles, a brake band carrier, brake bands for said bobbins, a reciprocating frame attachedto said carrier, a reciprocating bobbin rail, and means operated by the up and down motion of said rail for reciprocating said frame, and adjustable'stops to regulatefthe amount of movement of said frame, said means comprising a pawl and ratchet mechanism.

11. In an automatic thread tension regulator for spinning machines having spindles, bobbins carried by said spindles, a brake band'carrier, brake bands'for said bobbins,

a reciprocating frame attached to said car rie'r, a reciprocating bobbm rail, and means operated by the up and down motion'of said justable stops to regulate the amount of movement of said frame, said means comprising a pawl and ratchet mechanism, an internally toothed ring, and a satellite pinion that has half as many teeth as said ring.

' named bar carrying brake band guides adj ustable longitudinally alongsaid bar, brake bands, and means whereby said brake bands may be adjusted around the spindles of said machine in accordance with the size of the thread to give substantially constant tension on the threads While the bobbins are being filled.

13. In an automatic thread tension regulator for spinning machines having spindles and bobbins on said spindles a bar movable longitudinally and disposed adjacent one side of said machine, a spring pressed bar slidable on said first named bar, said last named bar carrying brake band guides adjustable longitudinally along said bar, an adjustable stop, brake bands, and means Whereby said brake bands may be adjusted around the spindles of said machine in accordance with the size of the thread to give substantially constant tension on the threads While the bobbins are being filled, said last named means .being operated by contact with said adjustable stop. 7

In testimony whereof, I aifix my signature.

ALBERT NAU-TOURON. 

